Mobile home rent board supported

Erin Neff

Thursday, April 26, 2001 | 11:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Mobile home park owners would have to propose rent increases to a five-person justification board under a measure approved Wednesday by the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 341, sponsored by Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, would establish a mobile home park rent justification board comprised of two representatives of park owners, two representatives of residents and one representative of the manufactured housing association.

Buckley said the top request of residents in her district is an end to wanton rate increases that often leave mobile home park tenants trapped and unable to afford the rent.

"These people want fairness, not a free ride," Buckley said.

Since it can cost up to $7,000 to move a mobile home, she said, tenants whose rents are increased often have no choice but to pay the rising rates.

The bill passed 24-15, with Sharron Angle, R-Reno, and John Carpenter, R-Elko, abstaining because they rent out mobile home spaces.

Those opposed were: Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas; Merle Berman, R-Las Vegas; Greg Brower, R-Reno; David Brown, R-Henderson; Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas; Marcia de Braga, D-Fallon; Joe Dini, D-Yerington; David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas; Don Gustavson, R-Sun Valley; Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville; John Lee, D-Las Vegas; John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain; Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, and Kathy Von Tobel, R-Las Vegas.

The bill is now referred to the Senate.